The Grandmaster’s Legacy: Masters of Love and War (A Taylor Lee HOT Historical Romantic Suspense Collection) (The Grandmaster's Legacy)

by Taylor Lee

  He whispered, “Honey, I am going to touch and taste and suck on every part of you. When you are screaming to come, then and only then, I’m going to come in here,” his fingers traced her sweet rosebud ass. “And, then, baby, I’m gonna come in deeper and harder than I ever have.”

  She buried her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth up hard against her throbbing nipple. “Oh, god, Wyatt, I don’t think I can wait.”

  He sucked on her and then with his fingers still stroking and teasing the puckered opening of her ass, he said with a chuckle, “You’re gonna have to wait, baby. But I promise you it will be worth the wait.”

  Thirty minutes later, Lei came out of the bathroom ready to go down to the governor’s meeting. Wyatt shook his head holding back tears of joy. “My God, Lei, you are stunning.”

  Her emerald green dress was beautifully elegant and showed her body to perfection. Every enticing element was on subtle display. He remembered Jesse saying that Lei looked a princess of an exotic country. She did. A better description was queen of that exotic place. Her face was still flushed from their lovemaking and her body seemed even more lush than usual.

  Lei smiled at him and winked. “Wyatt, you look stunning. Even with your clothes on, you are the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.” She shrugged and said with a sweet smile, “As long as you keep your shirt on in the meeting, I promise I won’t jump you.”

  Chapter 22

  When they walked down to the ballroom, there was no question that Lei would be allowed to enter. The manager of the hotel greeted both Wyatt and Lei personally. He welcomed them to the hotel hoping that they would enjoy their stay and come often.

  Wyatt thanked him and whispered to Lei, “I think he is wearing a protective cup over his balls in case I get out of line.”

  Lei laughed her delicious laugh. Wyatt saw the men in the lobby sneak an appreciative glance. He thought to himself, she really doesn’t know how beautiful she is. That must be what comes from growing up literally under lock and key.

  Arthur Stone entered the lobby and immediately came over to greet them. “I am glad to see you again Lei. You look beautiful. Wyatt, I am still troubled by what happened when we were here last. I hope you both will forgive the acts of bigoted people and know that is not what the rest of us think.”

  Lei nodded and smiled.

  Wyatt smiled but his eyes were cold. “Looks like the rest of the bigoted crew has arrived.”

  At that moment, with a great deal of campaign glad handing, Martin and his team arrived. Martin approached everyone in the lobby as though he had known them for a lifetime. With the tried and true candidate’s familiar pose, he spoke to each person as though they were personal friends. That act continued as he made his way around the room until he ran into Wyatt. He looked up and stopped cold. Wyatt met his gaze with a nod and a slight smile. Martin flushed, nodded to Lei and Arthur Stone, then quickly moved away.

  Across the room, Wyatt saw Jesse standing by herself. Apparently Martin thought it was important to have his wife present, even if he couldn’t stand to be with her. Lei followed his gaze and nodded to Jesse.

  The governor arrived and welcomed everyone, urging them to go into the meeting room. Wyatt kept his hand protectively on the small of Lei’s back, guiding her to a seat next to him. A large square table was set for the group. The governor called the meeting to discuss the fall campaign. He said he wanted to hear the campaign priorities of the candidates. Thirty men had been invited. Half of them brought their wives.

  The governor called the meeting to order. While they waited for the food to be served, the governor asked each of the candidates to describe the tenets of their campaign. Bernie Catron spoke first. He earnestly described his plan for reform, public education, and a range of citizen oriented initiatives.

  Martin followed. In an oily voice and with an open sneer at his opponent, he said, “I apologize for not being as high-minded as my friend Bernie. First and foremost, I think it is important that we bring our state forward. I want Wyoming to be considered part of the real United States not a backwater of tribes.” He corrected himself, “I mean, rather than a state whose people who are not well educated or well travelled. It is my hope that my wife and I can bring a little Eastern sophistication to the wild ways of Wyoming,” he said with a hearty laugh.

  There were a few chuckles from Martin’s team but mostly silence.

  The governor turned to Wyatt. “Wyatt, you’re not running for office, but you’ve had as much to do with politics in Wyoming as anyone around this table. I sure as hell know I couldn’t have been elected without your help.” There was a round of appreciative nods and “here, here’s” from the majority of men at the table. The governor continued, “Perhaps you would like to say a few words.”

  “Just a minute, Governor,” Martin interjected. “I trust you are going to call on my campaign chair after Wyatt speaks. We wouldn’t want anyone to think you are playing favorites.” He smiled intending to sound ironic, but the attempt fell flat.

  Wyatt nodded to the governor and ignoring Martin said, “It’s my pleasure, John. Thanks for the opportunity. John’s right, we go back a long way. The governor and I were both born and raised in Wyoming. As was my friend Bernie Catron, who I am honored to be working with. We are proud of our state and the people in it. Like a lot of old timers we have seen the bad days, as well. We have seen the days when Indians and whites fought each other and racial hatreds flared. We have watched the stand off between settlers and ranchers turn into armed conflict. We have watched lawless gangs go unchecked. But we have the example of being the first territory to give women the vote and we have seen good people; honest people of all races and stations band together and press for statehood. We hoped statehood would bring a call for reform, for progressive politics. The kind of politics that recognizes the rights of all citizens in this country. That would bring what our forefathers pledged — life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not just for the wealthy and powerful, but for everyone. It is my hope that as we move into the new century we will close the door forever on those who think government is to help the rich, steal from the poor or grow fat with bribes and graft. It is my intention, and I hope all of yours, to ensure that the bad days are behind us and we move into the 20th century a model for the rest of the country. That is the Wyoming I know, love, and am proud to be a part of.”

  There was a burst of spontaneous applause from everyone around the table, except Martin. Even his campaign team applauded.

  When the applause stopped, Bernie Catron said, “I have just one question, Wyatt. Why the hell am I running and not you? You’d be fifty points ahead by now instead of twenty points behind like I am.”

  Everyone laughed. Wyatt gave a slight bow to Bernie. “Bernie, the race has just begun. I guarantee before you know it, we will erase that deficit. Why, by this time tomorrow it could be a different campaign.”

  Martin’s face was red. He turned to John Thereon. “We’ve heard from their campaign chair, do you have anything you’d like to say?”

  John laughed. “You’ve got to be joking, Martin. You think I want to follow a speech like the one that rolled off Wyatt’s lips? No, I think I’ll quit when I’m ahead and say nothing more.”

  There was appreciative laugher. Arthur Stone spoke for the group. “Smart move, John.” There were nods of agreement from around the table.

  The governor looked up as the servants entered. “Ah, here is the food. Let’s eat and then we can return to this discussion and hear more from our candidates.”

  As the lunch was being served, Arthur who was sitting next to Lei, leaned over and said to Wyatt, “I hear you have an interesting new investment, Wyatt.”

  “News travels fast, Arthur. Hell, the ink is barely dry on my new investment. But you are correct. Lei and I are going to Washington following this meeting. I bought some of the last public lands in Wyoming that are for sale—a little over two million acres to be exact—at quite an extraordinary pri
ce. The reason the federal government sold it to me is because I proposed to develop a conservatorship for the land. I agreed to continually reforest and to maintain the grasslands. I also agreed that it will be used for purposes the government deems useful to the people of Wyoming. Anything from additional national parks to rent to farmers or ranchers.”

  Once more the table conversation stopped as everyone leaned in, eager to hear Wyatt’s announcement.

  With a disarming grin he turned to the group at large. “Now just so you understand, I am a businessman, as well as a citizen. The government has agreed to give me a nice tax incentive if I hold up my end of the bargain. Frank Kendrick, Martin’s uncle and a close friend of mine, is buying in with me. This is a good example of how business people and government can work together for the good of all the people in the state.”

  There was another round of applause and Bernie Catron said, “Once again, I ask you Wyatt, why the hell I am running? Why aren’t you?”

  Everyone at the table laughed, except for Martin, John Thereon, and Martin’s brother, Randall. They were staring at the table, their faces ranging from white to grey to bright red.

  Arthur Stone said, “I understand you have a new investment company. What did you call it, something about Golden Gates?”

  Wyatt smiled. He took out a cigar, lit it and leaned back in his chair. “That’s right, Arthur. It’s called Golden Gate Enterprises. Frank and I created it together. It’s the entity that bought the two million acres I just told you about.”

  He puffed on his cigar and studied Martin. “Yeah, we have had a lot of requests for our money, but we are turning them all down. Our only investment will be the public lands we just bought.”

  Lei whispered to him, “Wyatt, I feel a little strange. I am going to the ladies room.”

  Wyatt barely heard her. He was enjoying the looks exchanged by Martin and his partners. He knew in the next hour the hotel manager would be bringing the news from Washington that Martin and his fellow crooks had been indicted. The sheriff would be waiting in the lobby.

  Wyatt saw Jesse looking at Martin and his brother. Her face filled with fear. She looked at Wyatt with a helpless look and got up and left the table.

  After a moment, Wyatt excused himself and went out into the lobby. Around a corner he saw Jesse. She had her head in her hands and was crying. He went up to her. “Honey, you’re going to be okay. I told you Martin’s in trouble, but you know I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

  “Wyatt, hold me, please hold me.” He put his arms around her and she clung to him. She gazed at him, a worshipful expression on her face. “When will I see you again?”

  “I told you, yesterday, honey, maybe soon.”

  They heard an audible gasp and turned to see Lei standing in the open doorway to the ladies room. Her face, white with shock, confirmed she had heard and seen the exchange. Wavering as though she might fall, she backed into the bathroom and closed the door.

  At that moment men and women from the meeting came down the hallway. Wyatt saw that the men’s room was adjacent to the women’s and as the lines formed for each he and Jesse exchanged a troubled glance then returned to the ballroom.

  As the luncheon concluded, the conversation turned back to politics. Wyatt paid as much attention as he could, but kept looking at the door, more and more anxious when Lei didn’t return.

  Arthur Stone leaned over. “I heard Lei tell you she wasn’t feeling well. Is she all right?”

  Wyatt remembered now what she had whispered to him as she left the table. He said to Arthur, “I need to go check on her. Please explain to Bernie and the Governor.”

  ~~~

  Wyatt strode out of the ballroom. He went to the door of the ladies room and walked in, to the surprise of the women in the powder room.

  “Excuse me. Is there a woman in there who is ill?”

  The two women shook their heads. One replied, “There is no one here but us.”

  Wyatt felt his anger rising. Goddamn her. Why would she pick this time to throw a tantrum? She had to know what an important day this was for him; for them. Goddamn her. The sheriff would be here any minute. He was eager to see the arrest scene they’d carefully orchestrated.

  He raced up the lobby staircase and threw open the door to their room. Lei had changed from her beautiful dress to her riding habit. She was putting her things in her suitcase and barely looked up when he came in.

  “What the goddamn fuck do you think you are doing, Lei?”

  Her face was pale, her lips pressed in a firm line. “What does it look like I am doing? I’m packing.”

  “Lei, how dare you embarrass me like this on such an important day?

  She looked up with a snort. “Me? Embarrass you, Wyatt? That is rich.”

  He took several steps toward her. “Lei stop this. Stop it now before we both regret what we might say.”

  “Stop what, Wyatt? What would you like me to stop?” Her voice was strained; bright splotches marked her pale cheeks. “What should I stop, Wyatt? Caring about you? All right, I’ll stop. Believing in you? Okay. I will stop that, too. Looking up to you and honoring you? I definitely will stop that.

  “Lei, I mean it. Stop now. Do you hear me?”

  She faced him, her eye flashing with anger. “How can I not hear you? I remember well you telling me in this hotel to let your actions tell me how you feel about me. Yes, Wyatt, I hear you, loud and clear.”

  “Lei, please, honey. You have this all wrong. Listen to me.”

  “Ah, but I am. Just like you told me to. Listening to your actions. What do I have wrong, Wyatt? Do you think I don’t know that when you are gone for more than two or three days that you stop in a whore house? That you can’t seem to keep it in your pants, can you Wyatt? It’s just too good not to share, isn’t that right? I thought I could change that. I thought I might be enough for you. I thought all those nights and mornings and afternoons lying in your arms meant something.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  He reached out for her. “Lei, baby, please don’t. Stop now.”

  “Stop, Wyatt? You must be joking. The whores are one thing. I despise you for that. But Wyatt, even though you knew how much it would hurt me, in the middle of everything we are doing together, you fuck Jesse?”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “What don’t I understand? That in this room three hours ago we made love to one another. We were nearly late for the meeting because we didn’t want to let go. We had to tear ourselves apart. And we were going to Washington with your children to celebrate another of your brilliant accomplishments. An hour and a half later, you are holding Jesse and making plans for the next time you’re going to fuck her? Is that what I don’t understand?”

  She turned away shaking so hard she had to hang on to the table to keep from falling. Gathering her composure she turned back to him. “You’re right, I don’t understand. How narrow minded of me, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt moved closer. “You don’t understand what it was about. Please, honey, it doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Maybe not to you, Wyatt.”

  Tears were running down her face and she whirled to face him.

  “I am so stupid, Wyatt. All through the meeting I thought about coming back up here. To do what you said we would do. How you were going to make love to me.”

  “Lei, honey,” he started to move toward her.

  She stepped back her eyes bright with anger. “Oh, well, lucky you. At least you have a back up.”

  “Jesus Christ, Lei, how can you say such a thing?”

  He was angry now. His face flushed and he lashed out, “Goddamn it, Lei. You knew I wasn’t a one woman man.”

  Her expression hardened. “Oh, Wyatt, you are so blind. You are the most one woman man I have ever known. The problem for us all is that the woman is dead.”

  Wyatt stepped back, shocked. “How dare you?”

  “Wyatt, do you think I can’t compete with the whores, with Jesse
? Someone like Jesse?” She sneered, her voice filled with distain. “Who do you think you are talking to? But I will tell you one thing that we agree on. I can’t compete with a ghost.”

  “Lei, goddamn you, stop. How dare you talk like that about my wife?”

  “How dare I? How dare I say the truth? You can’t say that you love me. Even when we made love the way we did this afternoon, in the most loving intimate way. But you never told me you loved me. Isn’t that strange? Did Vivian make you promise that you would never love again?”

  “Lei, I’m warning you.”

  Ignoring him, she said, “I don’t believe that. No one who loved you the way she loved you would ask that of you. She would not want you to go through life not loving someone. No, Wyatt, I think I understand your wife and am honoring her more than you are.”

  Wyatt voice was low, harsh. “Lei, I am warning you — for the last time.”

  She whirled on him. “What will you do, Wyatt? Will you hurt me? Will you do everything you can to destroy my spirit? Will you make it clear that the way you’ve held me the last three months meant nothing?” She choked down a sob. The tears swimming in her eyes overflowed and spilled down her cheeks.

  There was a knock on the door. Lei walked past him and opened it. She nodded to the three men they had seen on the porch when they arrived. She pointed to her bags. “Take these down. Bring my horse. I’ll be down in a minute.”

  Wyatt glared at her. “Lei, if you leave now you will never see me again.”

  Not responding to his threat, she said, “Before I go, I have a question for you. What if you did let yourself love me? What if you didn’t fuck the whores or Jesse or the next Jesse, anything to keep from loving me? What if you did love me? Would I die, too? Maybe I would. So why not just kill me now, right Wyatt? It’s easier and much less painful for you.”

  “Lei, I will tell you one more time, if you leave now you will never see me again.”

  She tossed her head. “It is just as well. See, I am a one man woman and I do want a one woman man. Only I need to be that woman.”